Great Appalachian Storm of 1950
Category 5 "Extreme" ( NOAA: 34.69) | |
Type | Extratropical cyclone Nor'easter Blizzard Winter storm |
---|---|
Formed | November 24, 1950[1] |
Dissipated | November 30, 1950 |
Lowest pressure | 978 inHg ) |
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 57 inches (1,400 mm) |
Fatalities | 383 fatalities |
Damage | $66.7 million (1950 dollars)[2] |
Areas affected | Eastern United States Southeast Canada |
The Great Appalachian Storm of November 1950 was a large extratropical cyclone which moved through the Eastern United States, causing blizzard conditions along the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains and significant winds and heavy rainfall east of the mountains. Hurricane-force winds, peaking at 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) in Concord, New Hampshire, and 160 mph (260 km/h) in the highlands of New England, disrupted power to 1 million customers during the event.
In all, the storm impacted 22 states, killing 383
Termed, the "Storm of the Century".[3][5]
Synoptic history
The preceding atmospheric state was one of
United States effects
This extratropical cyclone rapidly deepened as it moved up the eastern side of the Appalachians during November 24 and November 25 and continued into November 27. Coastal flooding was seen along the U.S. coastline from New Jersey northward.
Southeast
In Alabama, all-time record lows for November were set at
Kentucky
An all-time record low for November was set at Louisville (−1 °F (−18 °C).[11]
New Hampshire
New York
Sustained winds of 50–60 mph (80–97 km/h) with gusts to 83 miles per hour (134 km/h) were recorded at Albany, New York. A wind gust of 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) was recorded in New York City. Extensive damage was caused by the wind across New York, including massive tree fall and power outages.[13] Coastal flooding breached dikes at LaGuardia Airport, flooding the runways.[14] Flooding extended to New York City's Office of Emergency Management on the Lower East Side, in Manhattan.[15]
Connecticut
Extensive wind damage with tidal flooding along the coast. On the coast structures and railroad tracks washed away. Plows were needed to remove sand from coastal roads. Roofs torn off on the coast and at the University of Connecticut. The tide at New London was 7.58 ft (2.31 m), third highest in the last 100 years. Hartford had sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h), the highest ever on record, with 100 mph (160 km/h) gusts also the highest on record were recorded on 3 separate occasions. The 62 mph (100 km/h) sustained wind recorded at Bridgeport is the 4th highest on record. Other gusts included 88 mph (142 km/h) at Bridgeport and 77 mph (124 km/h) at New Haven.[8]
New Jersey
A wind gust of 108 mph (174 km/h), the strongest ever recorded in New Jersey, occurred in Newark.[16]
North Carolina
All-time record lows for November were set at Asheville 1 °F (−17 °C)[17] and Wilmington 16 °F (−9 °C).[citation needed]
Ohio
On the storm's west side, nearly a foot of snow fell on
Pennsylvania
During the height of the storm, record to near-record flooding occurred along the eastern side of the Appalachians across eastern and central sections of the state. The
South Carolina
All-time record lows for November were set at Charleston (17 °F (−8 °C)) and Greenville (11 °F (−12 °C)).[citation needed]
Tennessee
All-time record lows for November were set at Chattanooga (4 °F (−16 °C)),[citation needed]Knoxville (5 °F (−15 °C)),[21] Memphis (9 °F (−13 °C)), and Nashville (−1 °F (−18 °C)).[citation needed]
West Virginia
Parkersburg recorded 34.4 inches (87 cm) of snowfall during the passage of this low, which exceeded its snowiest November on record by over 5 inches (13 cm). Pickens reported the highest amount from anywhere within the cyclone, with 57 inches (140 cm) measured. November 1950 became West Virginia's snowiest month on record.[22] This remarkably heavy snow led to 160 deaths.[23]
Effects in Canada
Ontario
This system was a major snowstorm for the area, with 12 inches (30 cm) in Toronto on November 24. This set a record for single-day snowfall in November.[24]
Lasting impact
This cyclone was used as a test case for some of the first attempts at numerical modeling of the atmosphere, and is still used as a case study to run recent versions of forecast models. These studies helped create what is now known as the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.[25]
Other similar storms
Storms during the time frames November 8–10, 1913, October 22–25, 1923, and November 19–22, 1952 were considered analogous to this cyclone.[26] Despite their similarities, there are some differences. For example, the 1913 event was much more destructive to Great Lakes shipping, while the 1950 storm caused greater snowfall amounts.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Ohio History. November 23-27, 1950: Great Thanksgiving Storm. Archived December 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ a b National Climatic Data Center. Climatological Data: National Summary 1950.[permanent dead link] Retrieved 2006-11-26.
- ^ )
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA'S TOP U. S. WEATHER, WATER AND CLIMATE EVENTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Regional Snowfall Index (RSI). Retrieved on 2014-11-18.
- ^ Joe D'Aleo. SOME MEMORABLE LA NINA NOVEMBER STORMS. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ a b The Great Southeaster – November 25, 1950 Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan November 24, 2012
- ^ Clarence D. Smith, Jr. The Destructive Storm of November 25-27, 1950. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ On This Date In 1950 – Historic November Cold Wave, AlabamaWx, November 25, 2019
- ^ Belski's Blog - Comparing the all time coldest November days, WLKY, November 24, 2020
- ^ The Great Southeaster of 1950, NBC Connecticut, November 24, 2017
- ^ Old Farmers Almanac. Weather—Thanksgiving Storms. Archived December 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ Richard Monastersky. Acclimating to a Warmer World. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ Alexis S. Nussbaum. Powerful Hurricanes and Northeasters: Threat to the Big Apple. Archived February 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ "Extreme weather records in N.J. include 110-degree scorcher". NJ.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ November 1950: Dr. David Call’s New Book on the Record-Setting Superstorm, College of Sciences and Numanities, November 30, 2022
- ^ Weather Channel. Storms of the Century: #8 – November 1950 "Appalachian Storm." Archived July 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ Ron Hahn. November. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ Remember Pittsburgh. Snow Disaster. Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ 71 years later, Tennessee and Kentucky still fight over the 1950 football national title, KnoxNews, November 25, 2021
- ^ National Climatic Data Center. Climate of 2003 - February West Virginia Drought. Archived October 5, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ The Great Appalachian Storm: Worst in Ohio Valley history, Spectrum News 1, November 25, 2020
- ^ Weather Doctor. Significant Weather Events: Canada. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- ^ Robert E. Kistler, Louis Uccellini, and Paul J. Kocin. Thanksgiving Weekend Storm of 1950. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ Clarence D. Smith, Jr. and Charlotte L. Roe COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE STORMS OF NOVEMBER 20-22, 1952, AND NOVEMBER 25-27, 1950. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.